The Chairman of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Sohail Ahmed, has expressed concern that the performance of FBR employees has deteriorated as the board is not timely giving replies to queries on tax matters filed by government agencies. He was responding to references received from the courts, President Secretariat, Prime Minister Secretariat and Cabinet Division.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the FBR Chairman has issued instructions to all Members to improve performance of their sections for timely responding to the queries raised by different government departments. According to sources, FBR Chairman is not happy on the delay caused by the tax employees while responding to the references and queries of the Supreme Court, President Secretariat, Prime Minister Secretariat and Cabinet Division.
It has been observed that the level of FBR workers' efficiency has been deteriorating as important correspondence received from courts is not replied in time. The FBR will take strict disciplinary action against the employees found in causing deliberate delay while responding to queries received from Supreme Court, President Secretariat, Prime Minister Secretariat and Cabinet Division. The FBR directive has also referred to the concerned disciplinary rules for initiation of action against the concerned tax officers.
The FBR Chairman's instructions to all Members have clearly reflected that some correspondence from the said departments had been delayed by the tax department.
It is important to mention that the Minister of Finance had conveyed to the Chief Commissioners of Large Taxpayer Units and Regional Tax Offices that the government has done enough for the employees of the FBR by first doubling their salaries and then providing all ad hoc relief/allowances including the latest ad hoc allowance of 50 percent despite serious financial constraints, in the hope that FBR would rise to the occasion and intensify its efforts.